Gush Mundae loves Richmond for its relaxed feel
(Picture: Adrian Lourie)I’ve lived in Richmond for five years now, but I used to live in the area when I was a child.
We moved to an apartment in Richmond after my father joined the police force.
In the early Eighties, we moved to Hounslow after my dad was promoted to sergeant.
I bought a home there but decided to return to Richmond as it offers a very good quality of life and that’s what I want for my wife and two children.
Eating and drinking
For really good coffee and pastries I go to Richmond Hill Bakery in Friars Stile Road nearly every day. I get a croissant for my two-year-old son, and Americano coffees for my wife and me. At the weekend I also get a chocolate croissant and bread for the family — the bakery does great bread.
Black Salt in Upper Richmond Road West is an authentic Indian restaurant that doesn’t tone down the flavours. Whenever I eat there, I go for the kid goat keema and pork cheek vindaloo, with roti or naan bread.
My wife and I love to get a portion of chips, with loads of salt and vinegar, from Quality Fish Restaurant in King Street and eat it on the Green. If we’re feeling extra naughty, we head to Gelateria Danieli, in Brewers Lane, which is great for a rum and raisin ice cream with salted caramel. Then we finish off with a pint from The Cricketers.
Where I work out
I usually run along the river path past Ham House for 30 or 40 minutes, two or three times a week. If I’m feeling energetic, I go up as far as Teddington Lock and back to my home which is a total of nine miles. I also work out at Fitness First, in Covent Garden, where my branding agency, Bulletproof, is based or the gym in my home.
To commune with nature
It has to be Richmond Park. It has so many hidden parts you can walk it every week and never follow the same trail twice. It has a ballet school, and a place called King Henry’s Mound. If you stand on it, you can easily see St Paul’s Cathedral.
I do a lot of walking in the park, I also walk my two dogs, with friends, in its Two Storm Wood. They’re enclosed, so there’s no chance of a ‘Fenton’ moment, with dogs chasing the deer.
Grocery shopping
I’m a Whole Foods boy at heart so I regularly pop into the branch in George Street, as I love their fresh meat and veg. My other go-to is a brilliant Turkish supermarket in Richmond Road in Ham, called Ham Food Centre. I go there for amazing food, snacks and fruit!
For a culture fix
The Orange Tree theatre is always good for independent productions. I’m looking forward to seeing Two Billion Beats by Sonali Bhattacharyya. But my No 1 culture fix was (the sadly now closed) Sleeve Notes Records in Hill Street. They only sold vinyl records and they had a rap section, as well as rare groove, funk and soul. Metal heads and indie fans were catered for, too. I love rap, which is very un-Richmond.
Getting around
I drive to work in my electric car, but in Richmond I walk everywhere. Richmond is best viewed on foot - you can walk everywhere in pretty much 10 minutes which is one of the reasons why I moved there.
Dream street
It has to be The Wardrobe, a pedestrian street in the grounds of the old Richmond Palace, just off Richmond Green. It was erected around 1501 by the Earl of Richmond and the architecture is beautiful. It’s a dream street in terms of its history and houses, but I wouldn’t want to live there, because the houses have tiny kitchens and tiny bedrooms.
Something you only see in Richmond
Thousands of deer and 100s of MAMILS (Middle Aged Men in Lycra), shooting around the park on their very expensive bikes! Then on the weekends, everyone descends onto the park from 6.30am until dark.
I see them when I’m walking my dogs and they take it very seriously as they cycle during the rain, fog or freezing weather. I tend to cycle when its 25 degrees, not minus 4!
What’s the catch?
Don’t be fooled into thinking people in Richmond are snobby, they’re not. People here are friendly, creative and cultured.
In three words
Boujee, relaxed, resplendent.
Bulletproof Design wearebulletproof.com
Schools
All of Richmond’s 11 secondary schools have a good or outstanding Ofsted rating, including Grey Court. The Vine Yard and Marshgate are among Richmond’s outstanding primary schools.
What it costs
Buying in Richmond
Average house price: £1,489,750
Average flat price: £612,440
Renting in Richmond
Average house rent: £3,990 pcm
Average flat rent: £2,180 pcm
